PLAYBOT: 2 Amigos live for comedy
“When Marty and I fly together,” says Steve Martin of his friend Martin Short, “we save a lot of money because Marty fits conveniently in the overhead bin.” Short says, “You look like Anderson Cooper frozen to death on New Year’s Eve.” Steve plays his banjo and sings, “Let’s count the awards you have won: […]
Carmen in the Badlands a mammoth undertaking for one night at the opera
Opera buffs have seen La Traviata in Chez Pierre, heard Nessun Dorma in a subway station, Un Bel di Vedremoon from a flatbed truck, and a full-blown Pagliacci at the Coney Island amusement park. Now it is time for another grand opera from the adventurous Mercury Opera company – in a location to end all […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Give K-Days a break!
Citizens of Edmonton have been bitching for decades about K-Days and how it sucks your wallet dry. It does. In these modern times, a family of four can blow $300 easy – and have nothing to show for it at the end of the day but another Pikachu stuffie crusted with cotton candy and grime, […]
First Nations acts big at stormy Interstellar Rodeo
Most of the people who attend Interstellar Rodeo are not fair-weather fans. They know that Mother Nature may not be on their side. Indeed, this year the festival almost lived up to the dreaded “Friday night curse” – as some call it – hearkening back to an earlier year when the Friday night had to […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Interstellar life discovered!
Heritage Amphitheatre in Hawrelak Park will once again host the Interstellar Rodeo this weekend. It’s a beautiful, open air venue, but still roofed so one need not concern themselves with the crazy whims of our prairie weather. This festival has become known for their eclectic yet buzzworthy headliners and supporting acts. This year is no […]
INTERVIEW: Nunavut singer inspired by #MeToo
Evidence that the #MeToo Movement has reached almost every corner of the globe can be found in Riit – aka Rita Claire Mike-Murphy, a recording artist from Panniqtuuq, Nunavut. The Baffin Island hamlet is closer to Iceland than to any major Canadian city. Music on Riit’s debut EP she accurately describes as “dreamy folk pop,” […]
The Cult of Corporate Cannabis
There’s a smell in air – of change. As we all know, as of October 17, 2018, our legislators will jump on the cannabis bus to cash in on some sweet, pungent tax revenue. Yes, we Canadians will join the Dutch in not getting arrested for possession of a plant, and there is MONEY MONEY […]
Jim Jefferies crosses the line in Edmonton
Anyone who made it to one of Jim Jefferies’ two shows at the Jubilee Auditorium on Friday knew they were in for a night of boundary-violating, button-pushing, self-deprecating hilarity. But how many would have guessed the Australian comedian would make it through his 90-minute performance without mentioning the name “Donald Trump” once? Because he did […]
THEATRE REVIEW: Oscar gone Wilde
Since its premiere in 1895, Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest has become one of the most successful and oft-produced comedies in the world. Theatre fans may find themselves mouthing the famous epigrams, aphorisms, gags, quips, bon-mots, etc. etc. with the performers on stage. That familiarity can be kind of fun as an audience […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Alberta Grown, award winning
Loathe as we are to celebrate a granfalloon of musicians selected on the basis of where they live, you really can’t go wrong showcasing Alberta talent – can you? So while “Alberta” is technically not a musical genre, there’s certainly enough talent in this province to qualify for a star-studded variety line-up offered at the […]
Sheryl Crow is one hard-working single mother
When Sheryl Crow talked about being a mom at her show in Edmonton on Tuesday night, it struck a deep chord with her mainly middle class, mainly middle aged white audience. In short, soccer moms. Is the soccer over yet? Illustrating the virtues and challenges that modern motherhood entails, the 56-year-old singer showed a depth […]
PLAYBOT: Earnest goes to camp
What great news it is that the respected Edmonton theatre company Teatro La Quindicina has dramatized and condensed for the stage all of the Ernest movies – which starred the late Jim Varney and will now feature Jeff Haslam in the titular role. What? OK, got to read these press releases more carefully. It’s “Earnest,” […]
